Gren Bay is in for a treat…or a ‘Golden’ sweep. The Packers (7-3) will host the Niners (5-5). And boy, this one’s got “THRILLER” written all over it. And leading the charge? Jordan Love. The young QB is showing flashes of brilliance lately, and HC Matt LaFleur is liking what he sees.
“It allows you to be a little more aggressive,” LaFleur said, referring to Love’s improving health and mobility. If Love’s feeling good, maybe we’ll, too, love what we see from the Packers O.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love’s improving health:
“It allows you to be a little more aggressive. … Some of the concepts may take a little bit longer to develop. … So when you have a QB capable of getting out of harm’s way, it gives you a little bit more confidence.”
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) November 22, 2024
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Let’s talk numbers, though—because we all want the stats to do the talking. But Love’s got the stat sheet and eye test on lock. He completed 76% of his passes for 261 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over the Bears.
Sure, there’s been a consistency issue—he’s thrown 11 interceptions over the last eight games—but hey, he’s learning. Exactly what LaFleur said. He’s not wrong, though.
And let’s not forget his weapon, Christian Watson. The guy went off: poof! 150 receiving yards. That’s no joke. So, if Watson and rookie Jayden Reed keep connecting with Love, the Packers’ offense could be cooking against a Niners defense that’s struggled to stop explosive plays.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Injuries are still looming over Green Bay.
Jordan Love and Co. are okay, but the injury bug bits the D-line
Jordan Love and the Packers want a W in the SNF… But enter the injury bug. It has spread like a plague in Green Bay, wearing the D thin. Coach LaFleur made it official that Edgerrin Cooper will not play and Jaire Alexander’s status is still up in the air. For a Packers D-line already stretched, this is less than ideal—especially with the 49ers up next.
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Even at 5-5, San Francisco brings heavy hitters like Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey. You don’t exactly sleep easy with those two on the other side of the ball, right? We are not even laying down the full lineup. That’s scary…
Yes, George Kittle is out, but don’t take a sigh of relief just yet. Nope, that’s not for you, Green Bay. They have got Ricky Pearsall, who could suddenly have his breakout moment. I mean, all of this, as if Brock Purdy wasn’t enough to contain.
However, there’s a light in Jordan Love and the offense clicking. This has been key to their winning record so far, along with LaFleur’s play calling. Working the magic… But let’s not sugarcoat it—the red zone still feels like quicksand for this team. With a ranking of 27th in red-zone efficiency, they’re leaving points on the field.
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If Green Bay wants to make a playoff push, that has to change starting from the next game. It’s personal. Especially, after the 49ers booted them out of the postseason last year. With revenge on their mind, Love and the offense have shown they can hang, but will the injury-plagued defense hold the line?
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Can Jordan Love lead the Packers to victory, or will injuries derail their playoff hopes?
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